LDict.py

from nltk.tokenize import word_tokenize
from nltk.util import ngrams
import re


legal_terms = {
    "Abandonment": "giving up a legal right.",
    "Abatement": "cancelling a writ or action; stopping a nuisance; reducing the payments to creditors in proportion, if there is not enough money to pay them in full; or reducing the bequests in a will, in proportion, when there is not enough money to pay them in full.",
    "Abduction": "taking someone away by force.",
    "Ab initio": "from the start of something. (This phrase is Latin.)",
    "Abovementioned": "describing something which has been referred to before in the document.",
    "Abscond": "when a person fails to present themselves before the court when required, such as when they have been released on bail and not returned to court.",
    "Absolute": "complete and unconditional.",
    "Absolute discharge": "someone who has been convicted of an offence being released without any penalty. (They may still have to pay compensation though.)",
    "Absolute owner": "the only owner of property such as equipment, buildings, land or vehicles.",
    "Absolute privilege": "a defence which can be used in a case of defamation if the statement from which the defamation arose was made in Parliament, in fair and accurate news reporting of court proceedings, or made during court proceedings.",
    "Abstract of title": "a document, drawn up by the seller, summarising the title deeds to a property (such as a house).",
    "Abuse of process": "when criminal proceedings are brought against a person without there being any good reason and with malice.",
    "Abuttals": "the parts of the boundaries of a piece of land which touch pieces of land alongside.",
    "Acceptance": "when an offer is accepted unconditionally and a legally binding agreement is created.",
    "Acceptance of service": "when a solicitor accepts a writ on behalf of a client.",
    "Acceptor": "the organisation (such as a bank) which will pay the cheque or bill of exchange it has accepted.",
    "Accessory": "someone who encourages or helps another person to commit a crime.",
    "Accomplice": "someone who helps another person to commit a crime.",
    "Accordingly": "a word used in legal documents which means therefore or so.",
    "Accounts": "the record of an organisation's income, spending and financial situation.",
    "Accumulation": "reinvesting income generated by a fund back into the fund.",
    "Accused": "the person charged with a criminal offence.",
    "Acknowledgement": "admitting that someone has a claim or admitting that a debt exists.",
    "Acknowledgement of Service": "when a defendant agrees that a writ or originating summons ('claim form' since April 1999) has been received. The defendant fills in, signs and sends back the acknowledgement of service to confirm in writing that the documents were received.",
    "Acquit": "when a court lets a person go without any penalty. If a court decides that a person is not guilty of a crime, or the case has not been proved, it will acquit the person.",
    "Acquittal": "the court's decision that a person is innocent of the crime they were charged with.",
    "Action": "using the law to make a claim.",
    "Active trust": "a trust where the trustees have other responsibilities rather than to just let the beneficiaries have the trust's assets when they ask for them.",
    "Act of bankruptcy": "an act which, if carried out by a person with debts, could have led to bankruptcy proceedings against that person.",
    "Act of God": "an extreme naturally occurring event (such as an earthquake, avalanche or flood) that could not have been anticipated.",
    "Actual bodily harm": "hurting another person but less severely than would amount to grievous bodily harm.",
    "Actual loss": "an insurance term which means that the insured item no longer exists.",
    "Actuary": "an expert on pension scheme assets and liabilities, life expectancy and probabilities (the likelihood of things happening) for insurance purposes. An actuary works out whether enough money is being paid into a pension scheme to pay the pensions when they are due.",
    "Actus reus": "an act which is illegal, such as theft. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Additional voluntary contribution (AVC)": "extra money people in occupational pension schemes can pay in to increase their pension benefits.",
    "Ademption": "when a gift in a will cannot be made because the item no longer exists.",
    "Ad hoc": "for a particular purpose. For example, a committee set up to deal with a particular situation is an ad hoc committee. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Ad idem": "in agreement. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Ad infinitum": "endlessly or forever. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Adjourned sine die": "when a court case has no date fixed for it to continue.",
    "Adjournment": "postponing a court hearing.",
    "Adjudge": "to give an official judgement about something. For example, if someone cannot pay their debts a court may adjudge them bankrupt.",
    "Adjudicate" : "to give an official judgement about something. For example, if someone cannot pay their debts a court may adjudge them bankrupt.",
    "Adjudication order": "the former name for a court order which made someone bankrupt. It has now been replaced with the term bankruptcy order.",
    "Administration order": "an order made by a county court when a person or a company cannot pay their debts. Normally the court orders that the debts are repaid by instalments and as long as the debtor keeps to the order the creditors cannot do anything else to recover their money.",
    "Administrator": "someone who has been appointed to manage the affairs of a bankrupt business; or to manage the estate of someone who has died without leaving a will.",
    "Admissibility of Evidence": "which evidence can be presented in court. Evidence must be relevant to the case but even some relevant evidence cannot be presented, such as hearsay or evidence of little value. The judge decides whether or not evidence can be used in the case.",
    "Admission": "one side in a case agreeing that something the other side has alleged is true.",
    "Admonition": "reprimanding of a defendant by a judge even though the case against the defendant has been discharged (dropped).",
    "Adoption": "the system which people use to become parents, even though they are not the child's natural parents.",
    "Adoptive child": "a child who has been legally adopted.",
    "Adoptive parent": "a person who has legally adopted a child.",
    "Ad valorem": "in proportion to the value. An ad valorem duty goes up as the value of the goods, shares and so on that it is charged on rises. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Adverse possession": "intentionally occupying land to prevent the rightful owner or tenant using it.",
    "Adverse witness": "a witness who gives evidence which damages the case of the side which asked the witness to testify for them.",
    "Advocate": "the lawyer who speaks in court for a client; or a Scottish lawyer who is the equivalent of a barrister in England and Wales.",
    "Affidavit": "a written statement which is sworn to be true by the person signing it. It is sworn before someone authorised by the court.",
    "Affirm": "to solemnly promise to tell the truth in court; to solemnly promise to tell the truth in an affidavit; to confirm a decision made by a lower court; or to allow a contract to continue even though it could have been cancelled because it was fundamentally breached.",
    "Affirmation": "solemnly promising to tell the truth when giving evidence. It is an alternative to swearing an oath when the person giving evidence does not wish to.",
    "Affray": "fighting unlawfully. It is a criminal offence.",
    "Aforementioned": "describing something referred to previously in the document.",
    "Aforesaid": "describing something which has been said or referred to before in the document.",
    "Agency": "the relationship between a principal and an agent.",
    "Agent": "someone appointed to act for a principal.",
    "Age of consent": "the age when a person can consent to have sexual intercourse. In the UK it is 16.",
    "Aggravated assault": "a more serious type of assault such as one leading to actual bodily harm.",
    "Aggravated burglary": "entering premises armed with a weapon, intending to steal goods.",
    "Aggravated damages": "extra damages awarded because the defendant has caused the victim anguish, loss of self-respect or shame.",
    "Aggravated vehicle taking": "stealing a vehicle, driving it dangerously and as a result injuring someone or damaging property.",
    "Agricultural holding": "a type of tenancy agreement for someone doing agricultural work. The tenant has special rights including, when the tenancy finishes, the right to compensation for improvements to the land. If the land has deteriorated the tenant must compensate the landlord.",
    "Aiding and abetting": "helping someone to commit a crime.",
    "Airspace": "the space in the atmosphere directly above a piece of land. If you own a piece of land you also own the airspace above the land.",
    "Alias": "a false name.",
    "Alibi": "a claim that a person was elsewhere when a crime was committed.",
    "Alien": "someone from a foreign country.",
    "Aliment": "the duty to financially support your spouse.",
    "Alimony": "an allowance one spouse pays to the other for maintenance, either while they are separated or after they are divorced.",
    "Allegation": "an unproved statement declaring that something has happened.",
    "Allege": "to claim that something has happened or is true.",
    "Allocation rate": "the proportion of a premium invested in a life assurance policy.",
    "Allotment letter": "a certificate stating that shares have been allocated to a new shareholder.",
    "Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)": "settling a dispute without having to go through a formal court hearing. This can include arbitration, mediation, and conciliation.",
    "Amalgamation": "the merging of two or more companies.",
    "Ambiguity": "unclear or capable of being understood in more than one way.",
    "Amendment": "a change to the terms of a legal document.",
    "Amicus curiae": "a person who is not a party to a lawsuit but is permitted to advise the court on a matter of law or policy. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Amnesty": "a general pardon for offenses, especially political ones.",
    "Ancillary relief": "financial orders made by the court in addition to the main order. This can include maintenance payments or a lump sum payment from one spouse to another after a divorce.",
    "Annul": "to declare that something (such as a marriage or legal agreement) is no longer valid.",
    "Annulment": "a court order stating that a marriage was never legally valid.",
    "Annual general meeting (AGM)": "a meeting of the shareholders of a company which must be held each year.",
    "Annuity": "an investment that provides a series of payments at regular intervals in return for a lump sum paid upfront.",
    "Answer": "the principal pleading by the defendant in response to a complaint.",
    "Antecedents": "a person's past, particularly their criminal history.",
    "Anti-social behaviour order (ASBO)": "an order issued by the court to prevent a person from engaging in specific anti-social behaviours.",
    "Appeal": "to ask a higher court to change a decision made by a lower court.",
    "Appellant": "the person who applies to a higher court to change a decision made by a lower court.",
    "Appellate jurisdiction": "the power of a higher court to review and change the outcome of a decision made by a lower court.",
    "Arbitration": "settling a dispute by an independent person chosen by the parties involved.",
    "Arbitrator": "a person chosen to settle a dispute in arbitration proceedings.",
    "Arraignment": "calling someone to a court of law to answer a criminal charge.",
    "Arrears": "money that is owed and should have been paid earlier.",
    "Arson": "the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.",
    "Articles of association": "a document that specifies the regulations for a company's operations and defines the company's purpose.",
    "Assault": "an act that threatens physical harm to a person, whether or not actual harm is done.",
    "Assignment": "the transfer of rights or property to another person.",
    "Assignee": "the person to whom rights or property are transferred.",
    "Assignor": "the person who transfers rights or property to another.",
    "Attest": "to witness the signing of a document.",
    "Attorney": "a person appointed to act for another in business or legal matters.",
    "Attorney General": "the chief legal advisor to the government and the person representing the state in legal matters.",
    "Audit": "an official examination and verification of financial accounts.",
    "Authentication": "the process of verifying that something is genuine.",
    "Autopsy": "an examination of a dead body to find out the cause of death.",
    "Award": "a decision made by a court or arbitrator.",
    "Bail": "money paid to the court as a guarantee that an arrested person will return to court for their trial.",
    "Bailiff": "an officer of the court who carries out court orders, such as seizing goods or evicting people.",
    "Bankruptcy": "the legal status of a person or organization that cannot repay the debts they owe.",
    "Barrister": "a lawyer who is qualified to represent clients in the higher courts.",
    "Battery": "the crime of unconsented physical contact with another person.",
    "Beneficiary": "a person who is entitled to receive benefits or assets from a will, trust, insurance policy, etc.",
    "Bequeath": "to leave personal property to someone through a will.",
    "Bona fide": "in good faith; genuine or real. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Breach of contract": "failure to perform any term of a contract without a legitimate legal excuse.",
    "Brief": "a written document prepared by a lawyer outlining the facts and points of law in a case.",
    "Burden of proof": "the responsibility of proving a disputed charge or allegation in a legal case.",
    "Bail": "To pay, or promise to pay, an amount of money so that an accused person is not put in prison before the trial. If the accused person does not appear at the trial, the court can keep the money put up for bail.",
    "Bailee": "A person or organization looking after valuable items to keep them safe for the owner.",
    "Bail Hostel": "Accommodation found for people charged with offences and released on bail, but who do not have a permanent address so that the police know where to find them.",
    "Bailiff": "An officer of the court who carries out the court's orders, such as taking a debtor's goods and selling them to get money to pay the debtor's debts. A bailiff can also personally deliver (serve) documents on people.",
    "Bailiwick": "The area over which a bailiff has jurisdiction.",
    "Bailment": "Transferring possession of goods from the owner to someone else. The ownership of the goods is not transferred. An example of bailment is when someone who hires a television has possession of it, but the rental company still owns the television.",
    "Bailor": "The owner of valuable items which are in the possession of another person or organization for safekeeping.",
    "Balance Sheet": "A summary of an organization's financial position. It lists the values, in the books of account on a particular date, of all the organization's assets and liabilities. The assets and liabilities are grouped in categories and paint a picture of the organization's strengths and weaknesses.",
    "Banker's Draft": "A cheque drawn by a bank on itself. It is used when there must be certainty that a cheque will be paid.",
    "Bankrupt": "Someone who has had a bankruptcy order.",
    "Bankruptcy Order": "An order that a court may issue against someone if they cannot pay their debts when they are due to be paid. This order takes ownership of the debtor's property away from the debtor and allows much of the property to be sold. The money raised is divided between the creditors following strict rules.",
    "Bankruptcy Search": "A document which says whether or not someone is bankrupt.",
    "Bar": "The collective term for barristers. When a lawyer becomes a barrister, it is called 'being called to the bar'.",
    "Bare Trust": "A trust which holds property on behalf of a person until they ask for it back.",
    "Bare Trustee": "Someone who holds property on behalf of another person until asked to return the property.",
    "Bargain and Sale": "A contract to sell any property or investment in land that a person owns.",
    "Barrister": "A lawyer who can speak in the higher courts, which a solicitor is not allowed to do.",
    "Barter": "A way of paying for things by exchanging goods instead of using money.",
    "Battery": "Using physical force on someone either intentionally or carelessly and without their agreement. It would not be battery if two boxers took part in a boxing match, even though they hurt each other during the match, because they would have agreed to fight each other.",
    "Bearer": "The person who has a document in their possession.",
    "Bench": "The name for the judges or magistrates in a court.",
    "Bench Warrant": "A warrant issued by a court for the arrest of an accused person who has failed to attend court. It is also issued when someone has committed contempt of court and can't be traced.",
    "Beneficial Interest": "Belonging to a person even though someone else is the legal owner. If something really belongs to someone, even if that person does not legally own it, they have a beneficial interest in it. For instance, if parents hold an investment on behalf of their child, they are the legal owners, but the child is the beneficial owner of the investment.",
    "Beneficial Owner": "The owner of a piece of land (and the buildings on it). Beneficial owners have the right to the income their land generates or to use the land for their own purposes. It can also be a person who really owns something even though it is held in someone else's name.",
    "Beneficiary": "Someone who benefits from a will, a trust, or a life insurance policy.",
    "Bequeath": "To leave something (such as possessions or money) to someone in your will. You cannot bequeath land or real property but you can devise them instead.",
    "Bequest": "Something given in a will, other than land or real property.",
    "Bigamy": "The offence committed by someone who is already married but still goes through a marriage ceremony with someone else.",
    "Bill of Costs": "The invoice the solicitor sends to a client giving details of any disbursements the solicitor has paid on behalf of the client, the fee the solicitor is charging and any expenses.",
    "Bill of Exchange": "A signed written order, instructing the person it is addressed to to pay an amount of money to someone. A cheque is a type of bill of exchange.",
    "Bill of Lading": "A document recording the goods a ship carries and the terms the goods are carried under.",
    "Bill of Sale": "A document which transfers ownership of goods from one person to another.",
    "Binding Effect": "The fact that an agreement must be kept to by law.",
    "Binding Over": "An order by a court in a criminal case. If someone has misbehaved or broken the peace, magistrates can bind them over. The magistrates can order them to pay a bond. This will be forfeited (won't be repaid) if the binding over terms are broken.",
    "Binding Precedent": "Following the decisions made by higher courts. Lower courts must follow the precedents set by the decisions of higher courts and this is called binding precedent.",
    "Blackmail": "Demanding payment from a person in return for not revealing something shameful about them.",
    "Bodily Harm": "Physical injury or pain.",
    "Bona Fide": "Genuine, sincere or in good faith. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Bona Vacantia": "Goods or an estate belonging to nobody. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Bond": "A written promise to repay a debt at an agreed time and to pay an agreed rate of interest on the debt.",
    "Bonded Goods": "Goods for which a bond has been paid to HM Customs and Excise as security for the duty owed on the goods.",
    "Bonded Warehouse": "A warehouse approved by HM Customs and Excise for storing goods imported into the UK until the duty on them has been paid or the goods have been exported to another country.",
    "Bonus Shares": "Free shares that a company offers to its shareholders, in proportion to their existing shareholdings.",
    "Book Value": "The value of a fixed asset, such as a building or machine, as recorded in an organisation's books. It is usually the amount paid for the asset less an amount for depreciation.",
    "Bought Note": "A document showing details of a purchase by someone for a third party. Stockbrokers produce bought notes for their clients. The bought note shows details of the investments the broker has bought for the client, including the price paid and any commission and duty charged.",
    "Breach of Contract": "Failing to carry out a duty under a contract.",
    "Breach of Duty": "Failing to carry out something which is required by law, or doing something the law forbids.",
    "Breach of the Peace": "When harm is done to someone, or harm is threatened.",
    "Breach of Trust": "When a trustee does something which is against the trust's rules or fails to do something required by the trust's rules.",
    "Break Clause": "A clause in a contract which allows it to be ended.",
    "Bridle Way": "A path or road which is a right of way for people walking and people leading or riding horses. Cyclists can use it as well but must give way to pedestrians and horses.",
    "Brief": "A document prepared by a solicitor which contains the instructions for the barrister to follow when acting for the solicitor in court.",
        "Call": "Asking people to pay for new shares they have applied for. A company makes a call when it asks buyers of its new shares to pay some, or all, of the share price. When this happens the shares are being called up.",
    "Called-up Capital": "All the shares called by a company when it issues shares. When calls have been made for the whole of the share price and the shareholders have paid, the shares become paid-up share capital.",
    "Canon Law": "The name for the rules used for running a Christian church.",
    "Capacity": "Someone's ability to enter into a legal agreement. For example, a minor would not be able to buy something on credit.",
    "Capital Allowances": "Allowances that you can sometimes claim when you buy long-term assets, such as machines, to use in your business. You claim part of the cost against your profits before your tax is worked out for the year.",
    "Capital Gain": "The profit you make if you sell or dispose of a long-term asset (such as a building) for more than it cost you.",
    "Capital Gains Tax": "A tax charged on certain capital gains.",
    "Capital Punishment": "Punishing someone for a crime by killing them.",
    "Capital Redemption Reserve": "A company has to have this reserve in its financial records and in its accounts if any of the shares it has issued are cancelled. The reserve cannot be paid out to the members until the company is liquidated and so it prevents the company's capital being reduced.",
    "Careless Driving": "Driving a car without consideration for other people using the road.",
    "Care Order": "An order by a court instructing the local authority to care for a child.",
    "Cartel": "An agreement between businesses to restrict competition and keep prices high.",
    "Case Law": "Law that is based on the results of previous court cases.",
    "Case Stated": "The written statement setting out the facts of a case. It is produced by a magistrates' court when asking the High Court for an opinion on the law.",
    "Causation": "One thing being done causing something else to happen.",
    "Cause of Action": "The reason someone is entitled to sue someone else.",
    "Causing Death by Careless and Inconsiderate Driving": "An offence committed by someone who is unfit to drive because of drink or drugs, but nevertheless drives a vehicle and kills another person. The punishment for careless and inconsiderate driving is less severe than for dangerous driving.",
    "Causing Death by Dangerous Driving": "A criminal offence committed by someone whose driving is dangerous and results in another person being killed. The courts consider dangerous driving to be a very serious offence.",
    "Caution": "A warning given by the police to a suspected criminal when the suspect is arrested; a warning given by the police when they release a suspect without prosecution that, if there are any more offences committed by the suspect, the first possible offence may be taken into account; or a document sent to the Land Registry by someone who may have a right over land, which demands that no dealings in the land are registered until the person with the right has been told.",
    "Caveat": "A warning. (This is a Latin term.)",
    "Caveat Emptor": "'Buyer beware'. It is used to warn people buying goods that they may not be able to get compensation if the goods they buy are faulty. (This is a Latin term.)",
    "Central Criminal Court": "The most senior court covering the centre of London.",
    "Certificate of Incorporation": "A certificate stating that a company has been incorporated (that is, it has a separate existence from its members). The Registrar of Companies issues the certificate of incorporation once a company has been formed.",
    "Certificate of Origin": "A certificate stating in which country the goods being imported were made.",
    "Certiorari": "An order by the High Court that a case should be reviewed. If the High Court considers that a case heard in a lower court is flawed it may order that it be reviewed by the High Court. (This word is Latin.)",
    "Challenge for Cause": "When the defence objects to a juror and says why it objects.",
    "Challenge to a Jury": "When either side in a case objects to the people who have been selected to serve on the jury before they are sworn in.",
    "Challenge to the Array": "When the defence objects to all the jurors.",
    "Challenge without Cause": "Happens when the defence objects to a juror but does not say why.",
    "Chambers": "The offices used by barristers and the judge's private office.",
    "Chancery Division": "A section of the High Court. It deals with cases involving trusts, land, company law, patents, and so on.",
    "Charge": "To formally accuse someone of committing a crime; to use property as security for a debt (such as a mortgage); or a direction given by a judge to tell the jury what they must do.",
    "Chargeable Event": "An event that may create a tax liability (tax bill).",
    "Chargeable Gain": "A gain on which capital gains tax is payable. If a capital asset such as a building is sold or disposed of at a profit, tax on the gain has to be worked out unless the capital asset is one exempted by law.",
    "Charge Certificate": "A certificate which the Land Registry issues to the legal mortgagee (the lender) who has lent money on the security of registered land. It is proof of the legal mortgagee's right to the security.",
    "Charges Clause": "A clause which appears in some contracts and sets out who should pay for certain items.",
    "Charge Sheet": "The document on which a police officer records details of the accusation against a suspect.",
    "Charges Register": "Part of the certificate which is evidence of someone's title. The register shows details of any mortgages, restrictions on the use of the land, or rights someone else may have over the land such as a right of way.",
    "Charging Clause": "Trustees can charge the trust for their services if there is a charging clause.",
    "Charging Order": "A court judgment which a creditor may get against the person or organisation which owes the money, giving the creditor security over the debtor's property for repayment of the debt.",
    "Charity": "An organisation set up to do good for the community, such as help poor people, educate people and protect animals. Most charities are registered with the Charity Commission.",
    "Charity Commission": "An organisation responsible for checking that charities are run properly. It also decides whether proposed charities can be placed on the register of charities.",
    "Chattel": "Any property except freehold land.",
    "Chattels Personal": "The name for tangible goods (goods which can be touched) such as watches, clothes, furniture, and so on.",
    "Chattels Real": "Another name for leasehold land.",
    "Cheat": "A person who fails to send tax returns to the tax authorities or fails to pay the tax owing, such as income tax or value added tax.",
        "Cheque": "A written order, addressed to a bank, instructing the bank to pay an amount of money to the person or organisation named on the cheque. The bank takes the money out of the relevant customer's account.",
    "Cheque card": "A card issued by a bank to a customer. It guarantees that a cheque used with the card will be paid if the person issuing the cheque has kept to all the conditions.",
    "Chief rent": "Money charged regularly on freehold land. Despite its name, it is not rent.",
    "Child abuse": "Molestation or ill-treatment suffered by a child.",
    "Child assessment Order": "An order which a local authority may apply to a court for to assess a child's situation if there are concerns about the child's welfare.",
    "Children in care": "Children looked after by a local authority. The local authority takes on the responsibility for the children as if it was a parent.",
    "Child Support Agency": "Part of the Department of Social Security. It supervises the assessment and payment of maintenance for children.",
    "Child Support Maintenance": "The amount of maintenance the parent not living with their child must pay.",
    "Chose": "An item of property (anything which can be owned).",
    "Chose in action": "A right such as a patent, or a right to recover a debt. A chose in action does not physically exist.",
    "Chose in possession": "An object which physically exists, such as furniture.",
    "Circuit": "Any of the six legal regions into which the United Kingdom is divided up. Each circuit has its own system to administer the courts within the circuit.",
    "Circuit judge": "A judge who presides over (is in charge of) cases in the Crown Court and county courts.",
    "Circumstantial evidence": "Evidence which suggests a fact but does not prove the fact is true.",
    "Citation": "A summons to appear in court; quoting from a completed case to support an argument; or a notice sent out by someone wanting grant of probate or letters of administration, asking people to come forward if they object to it.",
    "Citizen's arrest": "An arrest by someone who is not a police officer. The offence must be being committed or have already been committed when the arrest is done.",
    "Civil court": "A court which does not hear criminal cases. It deals with people's rights such as collection of debts.",
    "Claim": "To apply for a right; to demand a remedy; or an application for something such as a right.",
    "Claimant": "The person making a claim.",
    "Clause": "A section in a contract.",
    "Clearing bank": "One of several major banks which work together to exchange and pay for cheques which their customers have written.",
    "Clerk to the Justices": "A solicitor or barrister who helps in court by advising the magistrates.",
    "Close company": "A company controlled by five people or fewer, or by its directors.",
    "Closing order": "An order prohibiting the use of a house because the house is not fit for humans to live in.",
    "Codicil": "Extra pages to change a valid will which needs a minor alteration. The codicil must be signed and witnessed and then be attached to the will.",
    "Codifying statute": "A statute used to bring together all the strands of the law on a particular subject.",
    "Coercion": "A defence that a crime was committed because the person accused was forced to do it.",
    "Collateral": "Extra security for a debt. If there is a main security for a debt, such as a house being security for a mortgage, any extra security supplied is called collateral.",
    "Commissioner for Oaths": "A person appointed by the Lord Chancellor to administer (manage) the swearing of oaths.",
    "Committal for sentence": "Happens when magistrates have found someone guilty of a crime but they think their sentencing powers are not enough. The magistrates transfer the case to the Crown Court where a higher sentence can be imposed.",
    "Committal for trial": "When magistrates look at the evidence in a case and then send the case to be heard in the Crown Court.",
    "Committal order": "An order used to send someone to prison for contempt of court.",
    "Committal proceedings": "A hearing where magistrates work out if there is enough evidence of a serious crime to justify a trial by jury.",
    "Committee of Inspection": "A committee appointed from the creditors of a company in liquidation to oversee the liquidator's work.",
    "Common assault": "When someone threatens another person with physical harm, even if they are not touched. This is a less serious type of assault.",
    "Common duty of care": "The duty of the occupier of premises or land to take reasonable care of visitors to make sure that they are kept safe.",
    "Common seal": "The seal companies use to authenticate (validate) important company documents. The company's name is engraved on the seal.",
    "Commorientes": "Closely related people who die at the same time, and it is unclear which of them died first.",
    "Community service order": "An order to do work in the community without pay. If someone has been convicted of a crime they may be given a community service order as an alternative to being sent to prison.",
    "Companies House": "The office which stores company information such as annual accounts, directors' names and addresses and the registered office address.",
    "Company secretary": "A person appointed by the directors of a company who is responsible for making sure that the company complies with the Companies Acts.",
    "Compensation": "Money paid to make up for damage or loss caused.",
    "Compensation for loss of office": "Lump-sum compensation a company pays to an employee whose contract has been ended.",
    "Compensation order": "An order by a court to a criminal to compensate the victim of the crime.",
    "Completion": "Transferring property in exchange for payment. When there is a contract to sell land, there will be an initial payment to confirm the contract.",
    "Composition with Creditors": "An arrangement between a debtor and the creditors. The creditors agree to accept a proportion of what is owed to them in full settlement.",
    "Compulsory purchase": "Taking land and giving compensation for it. When land is needed for a project, such as a road, local authorities and other public bodies can take the land off the landowner.",
    "Compulsory winding up": "The liquidation of a company by order of the court. It usually happens because the company has not been able to pay its bills on time and a creditor has presented to the court a petition for winding up the company.",
    "Concealment": "Failure by one side negotiating a contract to disclose (reveal) information which the other side would need to consider when deciding whether or not to go ahead.",
    "Concealment of securities": "Hiding or destroying a document such as a will to gain benefit for yourself or cause other people loss of benefit.",
    "Conclusive evidence": "Evidence which by law cannot be disputed.",
    "Concurrent sentence": "When someone is sentenced for different crimes and the sentences are to be served at the same time.",
    "Condition": "A fundamental part of an agreement. The agreement or contract may collapse if a condition is broken.",
    "Conditional agreement": "An agreement which depends on a certain thing happening in the future. If the event does not happen, the agreement will not start to operate.",
    "Conditional discharge": "A court may decide not to punish a criminal immediately for an offence and may conditionally discharge the criminal instead.",
    "Conditional sale": "An agreement by which the seller remains the owner of the goods until all the instalments have been paid and all other conditions have been met.",
        "Condition precedent": "something which must happen before a contract starts.",
    "Condition subsequent": "something which may happen in the future and, if it does, will affect a contract.",
    "Confiscation order": "If someone has been convicted of a crime, the court may order the person convicted to pay the court a sum of money.",
    "Consecutive sentence": "when someone is sentenced for different crimes and the sentences have to be served one after another.",
    "Consent": "to agree to something. A contract would not be valid unless all the parties consented to it.",
    "Consideration": "the price you pay for something.",
    "Consignee": "the person goods have been sent to.",
    "Consignor": "the person who sent the goods.",
    "Consistory Court": "a court for the clergy. There is one in each diocese.",
    "Conspiracy": "an agreement by two or more people to commit a crime or to harm a third party.",
    "Constructive": "describing something which may not be set out in the law but will nevertheless be considered to exist.",
    "Constructive dismissal": "because the employer has broken fundamental terms of the contract of employment, the employee has been forced to resign.",
    "Constructive notice": "presuming something is known. The law sometimes presumes that a person knows something even though they do not.",
    "Consumer credit agreement": "an agreement by a creditor, such as a bank, to provide up to £25,000 of credit to a consumer.",
    "Contempt of court": "the offence of disobeying a court order, abusing a judge during a court case, or interfering in the administration of justice.",
    "Contemptuous damages": "tiny damages awarded when the court considers a case should not have been brought.",
    "Contingency fee": "the claimant's lawyer gets paid only if the case is won, often as a proportion of the damages.",
    "Contingent legacy": "a gift in a will which will only be made if certain conditions are met.",
    "Contract": "an agreement between two or more people to do or not do something, enforceable by law.",
    "Contract for services": "a contract under which materials and services are provided by a contractor.",
    "Contract of exchange": "a contract to exchange goods without money being involved.",
    "Contract of service": "the contract between employer and employee.",
    "Contributory negligence": "your own carelessness contributing to the damage done to you or your property.",
    "Conversion": "exchanging one sort of property for another or acting unlawfully to deprive someone of ownership of goods.",
    "Convey": "to transfer the ownership of something.",
    "Conveyance": "the document which transfers the ownership of land.",
    "Conveyancing": "the actions needed to transfer the ownership of a piece of land.",
    "Conviction": "being found guilty of a criminal offence.",
    "Copyright": "a legal right which stops things being copied without permission.",
    "Coroner": "a person who investigates the cause of death in sudden, violent, or suspicious cases.",
    "Corporate body": "a group of people acting together, having a separate legal identity from its members.",
    "Corporation tax": "a tax which companies pay on their profits.",
    "Corpus": "the name for a body (usually dead).",
    "Corpus delicti": "the body of a person who has been killed unlawfully or the facts that constitute an offence.",
    "Counsel": "a barrister or group of barristers.",
    "Counterclaim": "making a claim in court against someone who has already made a claim against you.",
    "Counterfeit": "something that is forged or copied with the intention of deceiving.",
    "Counterpart": "an exact copy of a document.",
    "County court": "a court which deals with civil cases such as disputes over unpaid debts.",
    "County court judge": "a judge who presides over cases in the county courts.",
    "Coupon": "a dated piece of paper attached to a bond for receiving interest.",
    "Court of Appeal": "a court which hears appeals against the decisions of other courts.",
    "Court of Protection": "a court which manages the assets and affairs of people unable to look after themselves.",
    "Covenant": "a contract or legally binding promise.",
    "Creditor": "a person you owe money to.",
    "Creditors' voluntary winding up": "a process for liquidating a company that cannot pay its debts.",
    "Criminal damage": "the criminal offence of causing damage to someone else's property.",
    "Criminal responsibility": "the age at which a person can commit a criminal offence.",
    "Cross-examine": "to question a witness for the opposing side in a case.",
    "Crown Court": "the court where people indicted of criminal offences are tried.",
    "Culpa": "blameworthiness or fault.",
    "Cum dividend": "if a share is sold cum dividend, the buyer will receive the declared dividend.",
    "Cumulative preference shares": "shares that carry forward unpaid dividends.",
    "Curfew": "a court ordering someone to stay at a specified place at stated times.",
    "Customs duties": "duties charged on imports and some exports of goods.",
        "Damages": "the name for money awarded by a court as compensation.",
    "Dangerous driving": "a standard of driving which falls far below that of a careful, competent driver.",
    "Debenture": "a document issued by a company acknowledging that some or all of its assets are security for a debt.",
    "Debt": "money owed.",
    "Debtor": "someone who owes you money.",
    "Debt securities": "debts which can be bought and sold, such as debentures.",
    "Deceit": "when one person deliberately misleads another with a statement causing damage.",
    "Decree": "an order by a court.",
    "Decree absolute": "the final court order which ends a marriage.",
    "Decree nisi": "a provisional court order which orders that a marriage should be dissolved.",
    "Deed": "a legal document committing the signer to something.",
    "Deed of arrangement": "a written agreement made between a debtor and creditors to avoid bankruptcy.",
    "De facto": "in fact or in reality.",
    "Defamation": "making a statement that damages someone's reputation.",
    "Default": "failing to do something which had been agreed to.",
    "Defence": "the team of people (lawyers) against proceedings brought against someone.",
    "Defendant": "a person defending a court action against them.",
    "De jure": "rightfully.",
    "De minimis non curat lex": "the law will not take account of trifling matters.",
    "Dependant": "someone who depends on someone else for financial support.",
    "Deponent": "a person who swears on oath that a statement is correct.",
    "Deposition": "a statement made under oath by a witness.",
    "Depreciation": "the drop in value of an asset due to wear and tear, age, or obsolescence.",
    "Derogation": "damaging someone's rights or entitlements.",
    "Determination": "ending an agreement.",
    "Devise": "to leave land in a will.",
    "Devisee": "the person who is left property in a will.",
    "Diminished responsibility": "a defence used for someone charged with murder, claiming lowered reasoning powers.",
    "Diocese": "the area covered by a bishop's authority.",
    "Diplomatic immunity": "immunity given to certain embassy members for crimes committed.",
    "Direction/directing": "judges must give juries instructions on points of law.",
    "Director": "a person appointed to help manage a company's affairs.",
    "Disbursement": "a payment made on behalf of a client, claimed back later.",
    "Discharge": "release from a commitment, contract, or punishment.",
    "Disclaim/disclaimer": "to give up a claim or refuse to take over a contract.",
    "Discovery": "one party revealing relevant documents to another party in a civil case.",
    "Discretionary trust": "a trust where trustees decide who benefits and how much.",
    "Disposal": "selling, transferring, or giving away something.",
    "Distrain/distress": "to seize goods as security for an unpaid debt.",
    "Divorce": "the legal end to a marriage.",
    "Divorce petition": "an application for the legal ending of a marriage.",
    "Domicile": "the country where your permanent home is.",
    "Domiciled": "permanently based in a country.",
    "Domicile of choice": "the country where you intend to make your permanent home.",
    "Domicile of origin": "the domicile a newborn child has, usually based on the father's domicile.",
    "Drawee": "the organization which will pay a bill of exchange.",
    "Drawer": "the person or organization that has written a bill of exchange.",
    "Duress": "threatening or pressurizing someone to do something.",
    "Duty": "a levy charged by the Government when things are bought.",
        "Easement": "a right to use someone else's land, such as a right of way.",
    "Enabling legislation": "legislation which authorises government ministers to create detailed rules.",
    "Endorsement": "a change to the original terms of a contract, such as an insurance policy.",
    "Endowment policy": "a type of insurance policy which pays out a lump sum on a fixed date or upon death.",
    "Enduring power of Attorney": "a power of attorney that takes effect when the person is no longer capable of managing their affairs.",
    "Engrossment": "preparing the final version of a legal document ready for execution.",
    "Equitable mortgage": "a type of mortgage where the purchaser owns the property as security.",
    "Escrow": "a deed that cannot become effective until a future date or event.",
    "Estate": "all a person owns at the date of their death or the right to use land for a period.",
    "Estimate": "an offer to do stated work for a set price.",
    "Estoppel": "a rule preventing a person from denying something previously said if someone else relied on it.",
    "Et seq": "'and in the following pages'.",
    "Euthanasia": "killing someone to end their suffering.",
    "Excess of jurisdiction": "someone acting without authority.",
    "Exchange of contract": "swapping identical contracts, making them binding.",
    "Excise duty": "a type of tax on certain goods and activities.",
    "Exclusions": "things an insurance policy does not cover, listed in the policy.",
    "Exclusive licence": "a licence under which only the licence holder has rights.",
    "Ex dividend": "without dividend; the seller receives the dividend declared before sale.",
    "Execute": "to carry out a contract.",
    "Executed": "describing a document made valid by being signed or sealed.",
    "Executive director": "a director who usually works full-time for the company.",
    "Executor": "a person appointed in a will to manage the estate.",
    "Executory": "describing something, such as a contract, which has not yet started.",
    "Executrix": "a woman appointed in a will to manage the estate.",
    "Exemplary damages": "damages awarded as punishment for the defendant.",
    "Ex gratia": "something done or given as a favour rather than a legal obligation.",
    "Ex parte": "done by one side only in a case.",
    "Expert witness": "an expert called to give an opinion in a court case.",
    "Ex post facto": "a law which is retrospective, affecting past and future acts.",
    "Extradition": "the handing over of a criminal to the country where the crime was committed.",
    "Extraordinary general Meeting": "a general meeting of company members outside the annual meeting.",
    "Extraordinary Resolution": "a resolution for consideration at a general meeting.",
    "Ex works": "available from the factory; the buyer collects from the place of manufacture.",
    "Factor": "someone buying or selling for a commission or providing finance on invoices.",
    "False imprisonment": "wrongfully keeping someone in custody.",
    "False pretence": "misleading someone by making a false statement.",
    "False representation": "lying to persuade someone to enter a contract.",
    "Family Division": "the part of the High Court dealing with marriage breakdowns and probate.",
    "Felony": "a term for serious crimes, still in use in the USA.",
    "Feme covert": "a married woman.",
    "Feme sole": "a woman who is not married or no longer married.",
    "Feu": "a lease which lasts forever.",
    "Feu duty": "a yearly charge on a feu, applicable in Scotland.",
    "Fiduciary": "in a position of trust, such as trustees or company directors.",
    "Final judgement": "the court's final decision in a civil case.",
    "Fitness to plead": "whether the person charged can make an informed decision.",
    "Fixed charge": "a charge providing security over specific property.",
    "Floating charge": "a charge securing money lent to a company over liquid assets.",
    "Forbearance": "when one party does not pursue rights under an agreement.",
    "Force majeure": "an uncontrollable event preventing agreement duties from being carried out.",
    "Foreclosure": "repossessing property due to failure to keep up mortgage repayments.",
        "Forfeiture": "the loss of possession of a property due to unmet tenancy conditions.",
    "Fostering": "looking after other people's children, often when parents cannot care for them.",
    "Fraud": "lying or deceiving to gain profit or advantage, or to cause loss to another.",
    "Fraudulent conveyance": "ownership of land transferred without consideration to defraud someone.",
    "Fraudulent preference": "an insolvent person paying one creditor while unable to pay others.",
    "Fraudulent trading": "running a business intending to defraud creditors or others.",
    "Freehold": "land that only the owner has rights over.",
    "Free of encumbrances": "when no one else has rights over a property.",
    "Frustration": "stopping a contract when something makes it impossible to carry out.",
    "Futures contract": "a binding contract to buy or sell something at a fixed price on a future date.",
    "Garnishee order": "a court order directing a third party to pay money owed to a judgment debtor to the creditor.",
    "General damages": "compensation awarded for a wrong without needing specific proof of damage.",
    "General meeting": "a meeting of company members to make decisions.",
    "Grant": "proof of entitlement to deal with a deceased person's estate.",
    "Grant of probate": "a certificate proving that executors are entitled to manage the estate.",
    "Grievous bodily harm": "intentionally causing serious physical harm to someone.",
    "Guarantee": "a promise by a guarantor to repay a debt if the borrower fails to do so.",
    "Guarantee company": "a company whose members only pay agreed contributions if the company is wound up.",
    "Guarantor": "a person or organization that promises to pay a debt if the borrower fails to repay.",
    "Guardian": "a person formally appointed to look after someone's interests.",
    "Guilty": "a court's verdict that the charged person committed the crime.",
    "Habeas corpus": "a writ to order a person's release from unlawful imprisonment.",
    "Harassment of debtors": "the illegal act of collecting a debt by threatening or humiliating a debtor.",
    "Harassment of Occupiers": "a landlord's illegal act of using violence or interference to repossess property.",
    "Hearsay evidence": "evidence in court of something said to the witness by another person.",
    "Hereditament": "any property capable of being inherited.",
    "High Court (of Justice)": "part of the Supreme Court, split into Queen's Bench, Chancery, and Family Divisions.",
    "Hire": "to pay to borrow something for a period.",
    "Hire purchase": "a form of credit allowing possession of goods, with ownership transferring upon full payment.",
    "HM Customs and Excise": "a government department managing VAT, customs duties, and excise duties.",
    "HM Land Registry": "a registry that keeps records of registered land in the UK.",
    "Holding company": "a company that controls another by owning more than half of its shares.",
    "Hostile witness": "a witness who refuses to testify in support of the calling party or contradicts previous statements.",
    "House of Lords": "the highest court in the UK.",
    "Housing associations": "organizations providing housing without profit intent.",
    "Hypothecation": "giving a bank authority to sell pledged goods as security for a loan.",
        "Indict": "to officially accuse someone of committing an offence using legal means.",
    "Indictable offence": "an offence that can be tried by jury in the Crown Court.",
    "Indictment": "a document detailing the offence a defendant is accused of.",
    "Intangible property": "property that does not physically exist, such as rights or patents.",
    "Interest": "a legal right to use property.",
    "Interlocutory Judgement": "a provisional judgement, now referred to as 'Judgment for an amount and costs to be decided by the court'.",
    "Interlocutory Proceedings": "pre-trial actions in a civil case, including pleading and discovery.",
    "Interrogatories": "formal questions in a civil case that one side must answer under oath.",
    "Intestacy/intestate": "when someone dies without a will, leading to division of their estate among relatives as per law.",
    "Intimidation": "threatening or frightening someone to compel action.",
    "Involuntary manslaughter": "death caused by someone who did not intend fatal harm and had no lawful excuse.",
    "Issue": "the legal term for children or the matter to be decided by a court action.",
    "Issued share capital": "share capital allocated to shareholders who have subscribed for shares.",
    "Joint and several liability": "when two or more people are responsible for repaying a debt individually and as a group.",
    "Joint lives policy": "a life assurance policy on more than one person, paying out on the first death.",
    "Joint tenancy": "two or more people having identical shares in land.",
    "Joint will": "a single will made by two or more people covering all their estates.",
    "Joyriding": "taking a vehicle without permission and using it without authority.",
    "Judge": "a person who adjudicates in court cases, appointed by the Crown or Prime Minister.",
    "Judge advocate": "a lawyer advising a military court on offences.",
    "Judge Advocate General": "a lawyer in charge of military justice in the British Army and Royal Air Force.",
    "Judge Advocate General's Department": "a government department appointing barristers for army and air force courts.",
    "Judge Advocate of the Fleet": "a lawyer in charge of military justice in the British Navy.",
    "Judge in chambers": "a hearing in front of a judge not held in court.",
    "Judgement": "a decision made by a court.",
    "Judgement creditor": "a person owed money who has obtained a court judgement for it.",
    "Judgement debtor": "a person who owes money as per a court judgement.",
    "Judgement in default": "a judgement against a defendant who failed to comply with court requirements.",
    "Judgement summons": "a summons for a judgement debtor to disclose income and assets under oath.",
    "Judicial discretion": "flexibility in the way courts conduct proceedings.",
    "Judicial immunity": "immunity from being sued for damages while acting as a judge.",
    "Judicial precedent": "the principle that lower courts must follow the decisions of higher courts.",
    "Judicial separation": "a court order for two married people to live apart.",
    "Junior barrister": "a barrister who is not a Queen's Counsel.",
    "Jurisdiction": "the territory or power a court has to deal with specific cases.",
    "Juror": "a member of a jury.",
    "Jury service": "the obligation to serve on a jury when required.",
    "Just and equitable winding up": "winding up ordered for fairness among all company members.",
    "Justice of the Peace (JP)": "a person appointed by the Crown to act as a magistrate.",
    "Justification": "claiming that a defamatory statement is true in a defamation case.",
    "Justifying bail": "proving to the court that the surety has assets to pay the bail.",
    "Juvenile offender": "a person aged between 10 and 17 who has committed a criminal offence.",
    "Kerb crawling": "an offence where a man approaches a woman for sexual services in exchange for money.",
    "Kidnap": "to take someone away by force against their will.",
    "Knock for knock": "an agreement between insurance companies to pay their own policyholders' losses regardless of fault.",
    "Know-how": "expertise within an organization, which may be protected by a patent.",
    "Land": "includes buildings, subsoil, airspace above the land, and property fixed to the land.",
    "Lasting powers of attorney (LPA)": "authorities granted to act on someone's behalf in health and welfare or financial affairs.",
    "Lawsuit": "a claim made in a court of law.",
    "Leading question": "a question suggesting the answer or assuming disputed facts.",
        "Lease": "a contract between the property owner and a tenant, granting the tenant sole use of the property for an agreed time.",
    "Leasehold": "property held by a tenant under a lease.",
    "Legacy": "a gift left to someone in a will, excluding land.",
    "Legal aid scheme": "a scheme for covering legal costs from public funds for those who cannot afford it.",
    "Legatee": "the person who receives a legacy.",
    "Lessee": "the person to whom a property has been leased.",
    "Lessor": "the person who lets a property by lease.",
    "Letter of credit": "a letter from one bank to another requesting payment to a named person.",
    "Letters of administration": "authority granted by the courts to manage a deceased person's estate when they die intestate.",
    "Liabilities": "the debts owed by a person or organization.",
    "Liability": "a debt or obligation.",
    "Libel": "a false statement made in writing or a permanent record.",
    "Licence": "authority to do something.",
    "Licensed conveyancer": "a person authorized to conduct conveyancing, excluding solicitors.",
    "Licensee": "the holder of a licence.",
    "Lien": "the right to retain possession of property until a debt is settled.",
    "Life assurance policy": "a contract with an insurance company that pays out upon the policyholder's death.",
    "Life assured": "the person whose life is covered by a life assurance policy.",
    "Life imprisonment": "a sentence where a criminal is imprisoned for life, subject to early release on parole.",
    "Life interest": "an interest that passes to another upon the current owner's death.",
    "Life tenant": "someone entitled to use property for their lifetime.",
    "Limited company": "a company limiting members' financial liability if it is wound up.",
    "Liquidated damages": "damages predetermined in a contract for a breach.",
    "Liquidation": "the process of winding up a company by settling its debts and distributing remaining assets.",
    "Liquidator": "the person appointed to wind up a company.",
    "Litigant": "a person involved in a lawsuit.",
    "Litigation": "the act of taking legal action through the courts.",
    "Loan capital": "money borrowed by an organization.",
    "Loan creditor": "a person or organization that lends money to another.",
    "Magistrate": "a Justice of the Peace presiding over minor cases in magistrates' courts.",
    "Magistrates' court": "the lowest court dealing with minor criminal cases and certain civil matters.",
    "Maintenance": "financial support for a partner and children after a marriage breakdown.",
    "Majority": "the age at which a person gains full legal rights and responsibilities, usually 18 in the UK.",
    "Male issue": "male descendants (sons only) of men.",
    "Malfeasance": "an unlawful act.",
    "Malice": "the intention to commit an illegal act.",
    "Malice aforethought": "the intention to kill or cause serious harm.",
    "Malicious falsehood": "a lie intended to harm someone.",
    "Malicious prosecution": "an unreasonable prosecution.",
    "Mandate": "authority given by one party to another to act on their behalf.",
    "Manslaughter": "illegally killing someone, typically by accident.",
    "Market overt": "a lawful market where a buyer acquires good title to goods purchased in good faith.",
    "Martial law": "military governance of a country.",
    "Master of the Rolls": "the head of the Civil Division of the Appeal Court.",
    "Material facts": "key facts relevant to a defence or claim.",
    "Matricide": "the killing of one's mother.",
    "Matrimonial causes": "court proceedings related to divorce or separation.",
    "Matrimonial home": "the home shared by a married couple.",
    "Mediation": "assistance from a neutral party to resolve marital disputes.",
    "Memorandum and articles of association": "documents detailing a company's purpose, structure, and member rights.",
    "Mens rea": "the intent or knowledge of wrongdoing, a Latin term.",
    "Mercantile law": "law pertaining to commerce.",
    "Merchantable quality": "the assumption that goods sold are fit for their intended purpose.",
    "Mesne profits": "profits lost by a landlord due to unauthorized occupation of property.",
    "Messuage": "a house with its land and outbuildings.",
    "Minor": "a person under the age of full legal rights, typically under 18 in the UK.",
    "Minority": "the state of being underage.",
    "Minutes": "records of meetings held by company members and directors.",
    "Misadventure": "an unexpected accident occurring during lawful activities.",
    "Miscarriage of justice": "failure of the court system to deliver justice.",
    "Misconduct": "deliberate actions that are illegal or wrong.",
    "Misdirection": "incorrect instructions given to a jury by a judge.",
    "Misfeasance": "improper performance of a legal act.",
    "Misrepresentation": "a false statement made to persuade someone to enter a contract.",
    "Mistrial": "an invalid trial.",
    "Mitigation": "presenting facts to justify a lighter sentence after a guilty verdict.",
    "Molest/Molestation": "behavior causing significant distress to children or spouses.",
    "Money laundering": "making illicit money appear legitimate through a business.",
    "Moratorium": "an agreement to pause debt recovery actions for a specified time.",
    "Mortgage": "using property as security for a loan and the associated contract.",
    "Mortgagee": "the lender in a mortgage agreement.",
    "Mortgagor": "the borrower in a mortgage agreement.",
    "Motive": "the reason behind a person's actions.",
    "Muniments": "documents evidencing a right to property.",
    "Naked trust": "A trust which holds property for a person until they ask the trustee to return it.",
    "Naturalisation": "Giving a citizen of one country citizenship of another.",
    "Negligence": "Lack of proper care to do a duty properly.",
    "Negligent": "Lacking proper care to do a duty properly.",
    "Negotiable instrument": "A document which is signed; is an instruction to pay an amount of money; can have its ownership changed by changing the name it is paid to; and can have its ownership changed simply by being delivered to its next owner.",
    "Next of kin": "A person's closest blood relatives.",
    "Nondisclosure": "The failure by one side to a contract to disclose (reveal) a fact to the other side that would influence their decision to go ahead with the contract.",
    "Non-exclusive licence": "An agreement giving someone the right to use something but which does not prevent other people being given similar agreements.",
    "Notary": "A person (usually a solicitor) who is authorised to certify documents, take affidavits and swear oaths.",
    "Not guilty": "A court's verdict that the person charged with a crime did not commit it.",
    "Notice": "A warning of something which is about to happen.",
    "Notice to quit": "A notice to end a tenancy on a stated date.",
    "Not negotiable": "Cannot be transferred.",
    "Novation": "Replacing an existing agreement with a new one.",
    "Nuisance": "Doing something that harms other people's rights.",
    "Oath": "Swearing the truth of a statement.",
    "Objects clause": "A clause which forms part of a company's memorandum of association that sets out the purposes the company was formed for.",
    "Obligation": "A legal duty to do something.",
    "Obligee": "Someone who, under a contract, receives money or has something done.",
    "Obligor": "Someone who is bound by a contract to pay money or do something.",
    "Obstruction": "A motoring offence involving leaving a vehicle or other obstruction in a road or driving in a way which inconveniences other road users.",
    "Occupation": "Taking control of a piece of land which belongs to someone else.",
    "Occupational pension scheme": "A pension scheme organised by an employer for its employees.",
    "Occupier": "The person who is in control of a piece of land, such as a tenant.",
    "Offensive weapon": "An object that is intended to physically injure someone.",
    "Offer": "A promise to do something, or not to do something.",
    "Offeree": "The person who receives the legally binding offer.",
    "Offeror": "The person who makes the legally binding offer.",
    "Official receiver": "The person appointed to act as a receiver in bankruptcies and company winding-up cases.",
    "Official secret": "Information which the Government classifies as confidential.",
    "Official Solicitor": "An officer of the Supreme Court whose duties include acting for people who cannot act for themselves.",
    "Omission": "A failure to do something.",
    "Oppression": "The offence of public officials using their official positions to harm or injure people.",
    "Option": "A type of contract under which money is paid for a right to buy or sell goods at a fixed price by a particular date in the future.",
    "Order": "An instruction by or command of a court.",
    "Order in Council": "An order given by the monarch after taking advice from the members of the Privy Council.",
    "Originating summons": "A summons that sets out the questions the court is being asked to settle.",
    "Outlaw": "Formerly, a person who was not protected by the law.",
    "Overt act": "An act done openly and from which the criminal intention of the act is clear.",
    "Panel": "The list of people who have been summoned for jury service.",
    "Pardon": "Releasing someone from a court's punishment.",
    "Pari passu": "Equally.",
    "Parole": "Release from prison early.",
    "Party": "The claimant or defendant in a lawsuit.",
    "Passing off": "Pretending that the goods and services offered are those supplied by another business.",
    "Patent": "An official right for a specified period of time to be the only person to make or sell something.",
    "Patricide": "The killing of a father by his own son or daughter.",
    "Pawn": "To pledge goods as security for a loan.",
    "Payee": "The person money is being paid to.",
    "Payment into court": "Money paid to the court by the defendant for payment to the claimant.",
    "Penalty": "A sum of money which has to be paid if the terms of a contract are broken.",
    "Penalty points": "Points given by a court as punishment for driving offences.",
    "Per": "Through or by.",
    "Performance": "Doing what is required under a contract.",
    "Perjury": "Lying to a court after you have been sworn in.",
    "Perpetuity": "Forever.",
    "Per pro": "On behalf of.",
    "Per quod": "In accordance with or whereby.",
    "Per se": "In itself or by itself.",
    "Personal guarantee": "A pledge, by a person to a bank, to repay a debt owed to the bank if the bank's customer fails to pay it.",
    "Personal injury": "An injury caused to a person.",
    "Personal property": "All property except land.",
    "Personal representative": "A person who is appointed to deal with a dead person's estate.",
    "Personalty": "Another word for personal property.",
    "Personation": "Pretending to be someone you are not.",
    "Per stirpes": "Describes property divided equally between the offspring.",
    "Perverting the course of justice": "Doing something to interfere with the justice system.",
    "Plaintiff": "The person who goes to court to make a claim against someone else.",
    "Plea": "The defendant's answer to the accusations.",
    "Plea bargain": "When the defendant pleads guilty instead of not guilty in return for a concession by the prosecution.",
    "Plead": "To declare to the court whether you are guilty or not guilty.",
    "Pleadings": "Statements of the facts prepared by both sides in a civil case.",
    "Pledge": "Letting someone take possession of goods but the ownership does not change.",
    "Plenipotentiary": "Someone who has been given complete authority to act.",
    "Poaching": "Taking game from someone else's land without permission.",
    "Polygamy": "Being married to more than one person at once.",
    "Possess": "To have property under your control.",
    "Possession": "Having something under your control even though you may not own it.",
    "Possessory title": "Gaining title through possession.",
    "Post-mortem": "The examination of a dead body to establish the cause of death.",
    "Power of appointment": "A person giving a second person the power to dispose of the first person's property.",
    "Power of attorney": "A document which gives power to the person appointed by it to act for the person who signed the document.",
    "Practising certificate": "Certificates showing a person is entitled to practise law.",
    "Preamble": "An explanation of a proposed law.",
    "Precedent": "Lower courts have to follow the decisions of the higher courts.",
        "Precept": "an order given by an official body or person. It is used by a county council to tell a body to levy rates for the benefit of the county council; by a sheriff to call an election; or to order payment of a sum of money.",
    "Pre-emption": "the right to buy property before others are given the chance to buy.",
    "Preference": "when insolvent, paying one creditor while leaving other creditors unpaid.",
    "Preference shares": "a share entitled to a fixed dividend. Holders of preference shares are treated more favourably than ordinary shareholders.",
    "Preferential creditor": "a creditor who has to be paid in full before unsecured creditors can be paid anything.",
    "Prima facie": "on the face of it. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Principal": "someone who authorises another person to act for them; the actual person who committed a crime; or an amount of money lent or invested, not including the interest.",
    "Privilege": "special rights which some people have because of the job they do or their special status.",
    "Privity of contract": "only the parties to a contract can sue each other over breaches of contract.",
    "Privy Council": "a body of people appointed by the Crown. Its main duties are advising the Queen.",
    "Privy Purse": "money given to the Crown for royal household expenses.",
    "Probate": "authority to deal with a dead person's estate.",
    "Probate Registry": "a registry which deals with the forms needed when someone applies for probate.",
    "Probation": "If a court convicts someone of an offence, the court may order that the offender is supervised by a probation officer for a period of at least six months but for no more than three years.",
    "Process": "a summons or writ which is used to order someone to appear in court; the whole of a case from beginning to end; or the total number of summonses or writs issued during a case.",
    "Procurator": "a person who has been given authority to manage another person's affairs, such as under a power of attorney.",
    "Procurator fiscal": "under Scottish law, a person who acts as public prosecutor and coroner.",
    "Product liability": "the liability of manufacturers and sellers to compensate people for unsafe goods which have caused injury to people or property.",
    "Promisee": "a person who has been promised something.",
    "Promisor": "a person who has promised something.",
    "Promissory note": "a written promise to pay an amount of money to someone at a given time.",
    "Property": "the name for anything which can be owned.",
    "Pro rata": "in proportion. For example, if 10 items cost £100 you would expect three items to cost £30 if they were priced pro rata.",
    "Prosecution": "the name for the team of people bringing proceedings against someone else.",
    "Prosecutor": "the person who brings legal proceedings, on behalf of the Crown, against the accused.",
    "Prospectus": "a formal document giving details of a company's past performance and of its plans for the future.",
    "Prostitution": "selling sexual services for money.",
    "Protected tenancy": "a tenancy agreement for a house, giving the tenant the right to a fair rent and protection from eviction.",
    "Proviso": "a clause in a legal document which qualifies another section of the agreement.",
    "Provocation": "causing someone to lose their self-control by doing or saying something which would cause a reasonable person to temporarily lose their self-control.",
    "Proxy": "a person appointed by a shareholder to go to a meeting of shareholders, who can vote at the meeting for the shareholder.",
    "Proxy form": "a form for shareholders by which, if delivered to a company at least 48 hours before the shareholders' meeting, the proxy will be able to vote at that meeting.",
    "Public mischief": "something that someone does which damages the general community.",
    "Public nuisance": "a crime by which the general public is put in danger or suffers damage to its health, property and so on.",
    "Putative father": "the man found by a court to be the father of an illegitimate child.",
    "Qualifying child": "a natural child or adopted child who is under 16, or under 19 if receiving full-time education.",
    "Quango": "an organisation set up by the Government to do a particular activity. It is partly independent and does not form part of the Government.",
    "Quarter days": "the days when payments which are made every quarter should be paid.",
    "Queen's Bench Division": "part of the High Court dealing with civil cases.",
    "Queen's Counsel (QC)": "a barrister chosen by the Lord Chancellor to serve as counsel to the Crown, more senior than other barristers.",
    "Queen's evidence": "evidence for the prosecution given by someone who is also accused of the crime being tried.",
    "Quiet enjoyment": "allowing a tenant to use land without interference.",
    "Quiet possession": "using property without interference.",
    "Quorum": "the lowest number of qualifying people needed for a meeting to be able to make a decision.",
        "Racial discrimination": "treating someone less favourably because of their race, colour, nationality or culture.",
    "Rack rent": "the full market value rent of a property.",
    "Rape": "having sex with a person without their permission or forcing them to have sex against their will.",
    "Real": "relating to immovable property such as buildings or land.",
    "Real estate": "land owned by someone who has died. In the USA, it also refers to land and buildings used for business purposes.",
    "Real property": "land and buildings, minerals in the land and rights over the land.",
    "Realty": "another word for real property.",
    "Reasonable force": "necessary force; the use of some force must be necessary to defend your property or yourself, and the force used must be in proportion to the threat.",
    "Receiver": "someone appointed to sell assets to raise money to repay lenders or protect property.",
    "Receiving": "gaining control of stolen property.",
    "Recognisance": "an undertaking, given by someone to a court, to ensure that they do what the court requires.",
    "Record": "the documents in a court case from beginning to end.",
    "Recorder": "a part-time High Court judge.",
    "Recovery": "regaining possession of land by taking court proceedings.",
    "Redemption": "paying off all the money borrowed under an agreement.",
    "Redundancy": "being dismissed from a job because it no longer exists.",
    "Registered land": "any land recorded at the Land Registry.",
    "Registered office": "the official address where documents can be served on a company.",
    "Registrar of Companies": "an official in charge of the office which keeps records of registered companies.",
    "Reinsurance": "an insurance company insuring part of a risk it is covering.",
    "Release": "to give up a valid claim against someone, free someone from prison, or a document used to cancel a claim.",
    "Remainder": "an interest which starts when a previous interest finishes.",
    "Remand": "being kept in prison or paying bail before a trial starts.",
    "Remedy": "using the law to get compensation for damage done or for rights infringed.",
    "Renouncing probate": "a proposed executor refusing to act.",
    "Rent": "a regular payment to the landlord by a tenant in return for being allowed to possess and use the landlord's property.",
    "Repeat offender": "a person who continues to commit the same offence.",
    "Reply": "a claimant's answer to a claim.",
    "Repossession": "a mortgagee recovering vacant possession of the property mortgaged.",
    "Representation": "acting on behalf of someone else or a statement in a contract.",
    "Representative action": "one or more people, in a group of people with the same grievance, taking legal action representing the group.",
    "Reprieve": "a judge suspending or cancelling punishment for an offence.",
    "Rescission": "the cancellation of a contract.",
    "Reservation of title": "a contract which leaves ownership of the goods with the seller until the goods have been paid for.",
    "Reserves": "money set aside in accounts which can be spent in later years.",
    "Residence order": "an order which a court issues when it has decided where a child should live.",
    "Residuary legacy": "what remains to be given out from an estate after all debts, taxes and specific legacies have been paid.",
    "Residue": "what is left of an estate after all debts, taxes, expenses and specific legacies have been dealt with.",
    "Res ipsa loquitur": "proof is not needed because the facts speak for themselves.",
    "Resisting arrest": "a person trying to prevent the police from arresting them.",
    "Resolution": "a decision taken by the members of a company in a meeting.",
    "Respondent": "the person an action is being taken against.",
    "Restitution": "an order for the return of stolen goods to the victim or for compensation to be paid to the victim.",
    "Restraining order": "an order which a court may issue to prevent a person from doing a particular thing.",
    "Restriction": "when placed on a piece of land, the owner cannot sell or mortgage the land.",
    "Restriction order": "an order by the Crown Court preventing a person from being discharged from hospital, to protect the public.",
    "Restrictive covenant": "a deed which restricts how a piece of land can be used.",
    "Retainer": "a payment to a barrister to act in a case.",
    "Retention of title": "another term for reservation of title.",
    "Reversion": "the return of property to the grantor after a termination of a particular interest.",
    "Revocation": "cancellation.",
    "Revoke": "to cancel or withdraw.",
    "Revolving credit Agreement": "a loan agreement under which a person can borrow again to top up the loan, as long as they do not go over their credit limit.",
    "Right of way": "a legal right obliging the owner of land to allow authorised people to cross it.",
    "Rights issue": "an issue of extra shares by a company, allowing existing shareholders to buy extra shares.",
    "Riot": "a gathering of 12 or more people using, or threatening to use, violence to achieve a common end.",
    "Robbery": "using or threatening to use force while carrying out a theft.",
        "Sale or return": "An arrangement under which goods can be kept by the potential buyer for a period while their resale is attempted. Unsold goods can be returned if the conditions of the contract have been kept to and the buyer pays for the goods used.",
    "Salvage": "Compensation paid by the owners for saving ships, aircraft, and property from the sea.",
    "Satisfaction": "Paying a debt; settling an obligation by an act; or settling an obligation by substituting something satisfactory for what was originally required.",
    "Scheme of Arrangement": "An agreement between a person with debts, who cannot pay them when they are due, and the creditors. The creditors share the money the debtor manages to pay in proportion to what they are each owed.",
    "Scrip": "A certificate showing the extra shares and fractions of shares the owner is entitled to.",
    "Scrip dividend": "A dividend paid in shares instead of cash.",
    "Scrip issue": "Free shares offered to the members of a company in proportion to their shareholdings.",
    "Search": "Inspection of the registers maintained by organisations such as the Land Registry. When a person intends to buy a property, a solicitor arranges the inspection to find out if there is any adverse information about the property or the surrounding area.",
    "Search warrant": "A warrant issued by a magistrate or High Court judge to allow police officers to search premises.",
    "Securities": "Stocks, shares, debentures, and so on where there is a right to receive interest or dividends from the investment.",
    "Security": "Something of value pledged to a bank by a borrower. If the borrower fails to repay the debt, the bank can sell the security and repay the debt out of the proceeds of the sale.",
    "Security of tenure": "Protection from a landlord attempting to obtain possession of the property the tenant is renting.",
    "Sedition": "Writing or saying things which encourage ordinary people to rise up against the Government or which cause discontent.",
    "Sentence": "The penalty the court imposes on someone found guilty of an offence.",
    "Separation order": "A court order that a husband and wife can live separately if they wish.",
    "Sequestration": "A court order for the seizure of someone's property.",
    "Settle": "To create a settlement; to end a case by agreement; or to draw up a contract and agree its terms.",
    "Settlement": "When property is bestowed, usually by a will or a deed, on a trust for the benefit of people decided by the settlor. It also means voluntarily agreeing to settle a civil case.",
    "Settlor": "The person who gives property to a settlement.",
    "Several": "Separate (not joint).",
    "Shadow director": "A person who has not been appointed a director of a company but nevertheless gives instructions to the directors, which they comply with.",
    "Share capital": "The money invested directly in a company by its members. When the shares are first made available by the company, people can apply to buy them.",
    "Share certificate": "A document which certifies who owns shares in a company. It gives the type and number of shares owned by the shareholder and lists the serial numbers of the shares.",
    "Share premium Account": "An account recording the extra amount over face value that shares have been issued for.",
    "Sheriff": "Someone appointed each year by the Crown to be a county's senior officer. Each county in the UK has a sheriff.",
    "Shoplifting": "Stealing goods from a shop.",
    "Shorthold tenancy": "A tenancy under which the law allows the landlord to repossess the house.",
    "Sine die": "Indefinitely. If a case has been adjourned sine die, no date has been set for it to be continued.",
    "Slander": "Saying something untrue about a person or doing something that damages their reputation.",
    "Small claims court": "A section of the county court which deals with small claims, usually for amounts no more than £5000.",
    "Smuggling": "Importing or exporting goods illegally to avoid a ban or duties on them.",
    "Sold note": "A note that shows details of investments which have been sold, including the sale price and any charges taken.",
    "Soliciting": "A prostitute attempting to get clients in a street or other public place.",
    "Solicitor": "A person who can deal with legal matters for the public and give advice on legal matters.",
    "Solicitor General": "The assistant of the Attorney General who advises the Government.",
    "Special resolution": "A resolution which must be approved by holders of at least 75% of the shares with voting rights.",
    "Specific performance": "A court order to complete a contract.",
    "Spent conviction": "A conviction which, after a stated time period, does not have to be disclosed to a court.",
    "Squatter": "A person who occupies land illegally.",
    "Stalking": "A form of harassment where a person is made to feel alarmed or distressed by another person's actions.",
    "Stamp duty": "A tax on the transfer documents for certain types of transaction.",
    "Statement of claim": "The claimant's written statement setting out the claim in a civil case.",
    "Status": "How the law regards a person, such as whether the person is a minor or bankrupt.",
    "Statute": "An Act of Parliament.",
    "Statute book": "All the existing statutes in a country.",
    "Statute law": "The law created by Acts of Parliament.",
    "Statute of limitation": "A statute which sets out the time limits within which a court action must take place.",
    "Statutory accounts": "Company accounts which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies.",
    "Statutory audit": "An audit required by law.",
    "Statutory books": "Books of account which companies must keep by law to show all their transactions.",
    "Statutory demand": "A written demand for payment of a debt of more than £750.",
    "Statutory instrument": "A power delegated by Parliament to make and amend law.",
    "Stay of execution": "The suspension of the carrying out of a court order.",
    "Stipendiary magistrate": "A magistrate who gets a salary.",
    "Stockbroker": "A person who buys and sells stocks and shares for clients.",
    "Subduct": "To withdraw.",
    "Subject to contract": "An agreement which is not binding until a contract has been signed.",
    "Sub judice": "Describes something being dealt with by a court which cannot be discussed outside the court.",
    "Subpoena": "A writ requiring the person it is addressed to attend at a specific place on a specific date.",
    "Subrogation": "Substituting one person for another including all rights and responsibilities.",
    "Subscribers": "The people who set up a limited company.",
    "Subsidiarity": "Activities done by individual member countries unless they cannot do them adequately alone.",
    "Subsidiary": "A company controlled by another company.",
    "Sue": "To start legal proceedings in the civil court against someone.",
    "Suicide": "The act of killing oneself intentionally.",
    "Sui generis": "Describes something that belongs in a particular category or is the only one of its class.",
    "Sui juris": "Describes someone who can enter into a contract without any restriction.",
    "Suit": "Proceedings brought by one person against another in a civil court.",
    "Summary judgement": "Obtaining judgement without a trial.",
    "Summary offence": "An offence that can only be tried by magistrates.",
    "Summary proceedings": "A trial by magistrates, where the defendant can choose which court should hear the case.",
    "Summary trial": "A trial by magistrates.",
    "Summing up": "The judge's summary of a case at the end of a trial.",
        "Stipendiary magistrate": "a magistrate who gets a salary.",
    "Stockbroker": "a person who buys and sells stocks and shares for clients.",
    "Subduct": "to withdraw.",
    "Subject to contract": "an agreement which is not binding until a contract has been signed.",
    "Sub judice": "describes something being dealt with by a court which cannot be discussed outside the court. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Subpoena": "a writ requiring the person it is addressed to to attend at a specific place (such as a court) on a specific date and at a stated time.",
    "Subrogation": "substituting one person for another including all rights and responsibilities.",
    "Subscribers": "the people who set up a limited company.",
    "Subsidiarity": "subsidiary activities. Member countries of the European Community agreed that activities could be done by the individual member countries unless they could not do them adequately alone.",
    "Subsidiary": "a company controlled by another company. The control is normally a result of having more than 50% of the voting rights.",
    "Sue": "to start legal proceedings in the civil court against someone.",
    "Suicide": "the act of killing oneself intentionally.",
    "Sui generis": "describes something that belongs in a particular category or is the only one of its class. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Sui juris": "describes someone who can enter into a contract without any restriction. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Suit": "proceedings brought by one person against another in a civil court.",
    "Summary judgement": "obtaining judgement without a trial. In an action in the High Court to recover damages or a debt, if the claimant swears an affidavit that it is believed that there is no defence to the claim, the claimant can obtain summary judgement.",
    "Summary offence": "an offence that can only be tried by magistrates. Most minor offences are summary offences.",
    "Summary proceedings": "a trial by magistrates, where the defendant has the right to choose which court should hear the case, but has agreed to be tried in the magistrates' court.",
    "Summary trial": "a trial by magistrates.",
    "Summing up": "the judge's summary of a case. At the end of a trial by jury the judge explains points of law in the case to the jury, explains the jury's role and summarises the evidence.",
    "Summons": "an order by a court that a person attend at a particular court at a stated time on a particular date.",
    "Superior courts": "the higher courts in English law, which include the High Court, the Court of Appeal, the Crown Court and the House of Lords. Their decisions act as precedents for the lower courts to follow.",
    "Supervision order": "a court order that a child should be supervised by a probation officer or a local authority.",
    "Supra": "above (see above or before in the document). (This word is Latin.)",
    "Supreme Court": "the highest court below the House of Lords. The full name is the Supreme Court of Judicature. It is divided into: the Crown Court, the High Court of Justice, and the Court of Appeal.",
    "Surcharge": "a penalty charged if tax is paid late. It is also an extra charge banks make if customers do not keep to the agreements they made with the bank.",
    "Surety": "someone who takes responsibility for someone else's debts or promises, and guarantees that they will be paid or undertaken. It is also the name for the money put up as security that someone will appear in court.",
    "Suspended sentence": "a sentence that is postponed until the offender is convicted of another offence.",
    "SWIFT payment": "a payment from one bank account to another using the SWIFT system.",
    "Tangible asset": "an asset which can be physically touched.",
    "Tangible property": "property that physically exists.",
    "Tax": "money raised by the Government to pay for the services it provides.",
    "Taxable supply": "a term for supplying goods and services on which value added tax can be charged.",
    "Taxation": "the levying of taxes.",
    "Taxation of costs": "the scrutiny of and, if necessary, the lowering of a solicitor's bill to a client.",
    "Tax avoidance": "reducing tax bills by using legal means.",
    "Tax evasion": "breaking the law to reduce tax bills, such as by concealing income.",
    "Tax point": "the date when value added tax arises on goods or services supplied to a customer.",
    "Teeming and lading": "a term used to describe attempts to hide the loss of cash received from one customer by using cash from other customers to replace it.",
    "Tenant": "a person or organisation granted a lease.",
    "Tender": "supplying a price for a job. If an organisation asks firms to send in tenders for supplying something, they are asking for firm written offers to do the work.",
    "Tenure": "how a piece of land is held by the owner (for instance freehold or leasehold).",
    "Term": "any of the clauses which form part of a contract.",
    "Terra": "land. (This word is Latin.)",
    "Terrorism": "using violence for political purposes.",
    "Testament": "a will dealing with personal property.",
    "Testamentum": "another name for a will.",
    "Testator": "a person who makes a will.",
    "Testify": "to give evidence.",
    "Testimony": "the evidence a witness gives in court.",
    "Theft": "taking someone else's property dishonestly, with the intention of never returning it.",
    "Threatening behaviour": "using threats, abuse or insults against another person.",
    "Timeshare": "an arrangement where people can buy a share in part of a property for a period of time in each year.",
    "Title": "the right to own something.",
    "Title deeds": "the documents which prove who owns a property and under what terms.",
    "Toll": "a payment in return for being allowed to travel over a road, bridge and so on.",
    "Tort": "doing something which harms someone else. It may result in a claim for damages.",
    "Tortfeasor": "someone who commits a tort.",
    "Trademark": "a mark which is registered at trademark registries and which is used on products produced by the owner.",
        "Transcript": "the official record of a court case.",
    "Transferable securities": "securities, such as debentures, which can have their ownership changed.",
    "Transferee": "the person something is transferred to.",
    "Transferor": "the person who transfers something to someone else.",
    "Treason": "the crime of betraying your country such as helping your country's enemies in wartime.",
    "Treasure trove": "treasure found in a hiding place and whose owner cannot be traced. It belongs to the Crown but the finder and the landowner may get a reward.",
    "Treasury": "the government department which administers (manages) the country's finances.",
    "Treasury bill": "an unconditional promise by the Treasury to repay money it has borrowed for the short term (up to one year), to pay for government spending.",
    "Treasury Solicitor": "the person who gives legal advice to the Treasury.",
    "Trespassing": "going on land without the owner's permission.",
    "Trial": "an examination of the evidence in a case and the law which applies.",
    "Tribunal": "a body set up to act like a court, but outside the normal court system; a forum to hear disputes and with the authority to settle them; a body given power by statute to discipline members of a profession who do not keep to the high standards of behaviour demanded of members of the profession; or a body set up by the members of an association to police the members' actions.",
    "Trust": "a financial arrangement under which property is held by named people for someone else.",
    "Trust corporation": "a company which acts as a trustee and holds a trust's assets.",
    "Trust deed": "a legal document which is used to create, change, or control a trust.",
    "Trustee": "a person who holds property and looks after it on behalf of someone else.",
    "Trustee in bankruptcy": "a person who administers (manages) a bankrupt person's estate and pays any available money to the creditors.",
    "Uberrimae fidei": "of the utmost good faith. In certain contracts (such as insurance policies) one party must disclose (reveal) any material facts to the other party. If they are not disclosed, the contract can be cancelled or become unenforceable. (This term is Latin.)",
    "Ultra vires": "beyond one's powers. If an organisation does something ultra vires, what it has done is invalid.",
    "Underlease": "the lease of a property by a tenant of the property to someone else.",
    "Undertaking": "a promise which can be enforced by law such as a promise made by one of the parties or by their counsel during legal proceedings.",
    "Unfair contract terms": "prevents a party to a contract unfairly limiting their liability. The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 was passed to control unfair exclusion clauses.",
    "Unfair dismissal": "sacking an employee unfairly. When an employee has been dismissed, it is the employer's responsibility to prove that the dismissal was fair.",
    "Unit trust": "a trust which manages investments. People can invest in unit trusts by buying units.",
    "Unlawful wounding": "wounding someone without the justification of self-defence or without power given by the law.",
    "Unliquidated damages": "the amount of damages decided by a court because the parties to a contract had not agreed in advance how much the damages would be for breaking the terms of the contract.",
    "Unreasonable behaviour": "behaviour by a married person that justifies the other partner in the marriage living apart.",
    "Unregistered company": "a company which is not registered under the Companies Acts.",
    "Unregistered land": "land which is not recorded in the registers at HM Land Registry.",
    "Unsecured creditor": "someone who has lent money without getting any security for the loan.",
    "Uterine": "describes people who have the same mother but different fathers.",
    "Vendee": "a person who buys something.",
    "Vendor": "a person who sells something.",
    "Verdict": "the jury's decision at the end of a case.",
    "Vesting order": "a way the High Court transfers land without the need for a conveyance.",
    "Vexatious litigant": "a person who regularly brings court cases which have little chance of succeeding.",
    "Vicarious liability": "a situation where someone becomes responsible under the law for wrongs done by someone else.",
    "Violent disorder": "three or more people in a gathering using or threatening to use unlawful violence.",
    "Void": "unable to be enforced by the law.",
    "Voidable": "able to be cancelled in certain circumstances.",
    "Voluntary arrangement": "an agreement between a debtor and the creditors to pay the debts over a period.",
    "Voluntary manslaughter": "Murder and voluntary manslaughter have the same meaning in law, but there are four defences that can reduce the crime in seriousness to manslaughter: Provocation, Diminished responsibility, Infanticide, and Suicide.",
    "Ward of court": "a person who is protected by the High Court, such as a minor.",
    "Warrant": [
        "a certificate which gives the person holding it the right to buy shares at a given price;",
        "a magistrate's written instruction to arrest someone;",
        "a magistrate's written instruction to search a property."
    ],
    "Warranty": "a term in a contract. If the term is not complied with, damages can be claimed by the injured party.",
    "Wayleave": "a right of way through or over a piece of land often for a particular purpose, such as for a pipeline to go through a piece of land or for goods to be carried over it.",
    "Will": "a legal document which people use to bequeath (leave as a gift) money and property when they die.",
    "Winding up": "disposing of all a company's assets and paying all its debts. Any money left is then divided among the members.",
    "Without prejudice": "when written on a document, the document cannot be used as evidence that a contract or agreement exists.",
    "Witness": [
        "someone who watches a signature being put on a document, and then signs as well to verify the signature's authenticity;",
        "someone who attends court to testify about events they know about."
    ],
    "To witness a document": "to watch it being signed and then add your own signature and name, address, and occupation.",
    "Words of art": "words which have a fixed meaning in law so that their use in a legal document can have only one interpretation.",
    "Writ": "an order issued by a court telling someone to do something or not to do something.",
    "Writ of execution": "a type of writ used when a court judgment needs enforcing.",
    "Writ of summons": "a type of writ used to start a civil case in the High Court.",
    "Wrongful dismissal": "ending an employee's contract without following the contract's terms.",
    "Wrongful trading": "continuing to trade while knowing that there is little prospect of the company being able to pay its debts.",
    "Young offender": "a person between the ages of 14 and 17 who has committed a crime.",
    "Backlog": "As per the 245th Law Commission report, when the institution of new cases in any given time period is higher than the disposal of cases in that time period, the difference between institution and disposal is the backlog. This figure represents the accumulation of cases in the system due to the system’s inability to dispose of as many cases as are being filed. Check the wiki page",
    "Bail": "Bail is referred to as the temporary release of the accused person in a criminal case in which the trial has not started or the trial is going on and the court is yet to reach a decision. The court granting bail usually imposes conditions such as sureties, personal bond, participation in investigation, as conditions for release. Check the wiki page",
    "Beyond Reasonable Doubt": "It is the level of proof that is required to be proved to convict an accused person in a criminal case. In criminal cases, the prosecution bears the burden of proving that the accused person is guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. The judge needs to be convinced beyond reasonable doubt, based on their consideration of the evidence, that the accused is guilty of the crime charged in order to convict them. Check the wiki page",
    "Burden of proof": "The burden of proof is the standard that the parties have to satisfy to prove a fact in court. In criminal cases, the burden of proving the accused person’s guilt is on the prosecution, and they must prove it beyond reasonable doubt. In civil cases, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff and they have to prove their case by a preponderance of probabilities. This means that a fact is said to be proved when the court either believes it to exist or considers its existence so probable that a prudent man ought, under the circumstances of the particular case, to act upon the supposition that it exists (Narayan Ganesh Dastane v. Sucheta Narayan Dastane 1975 AIR 1534).",
    "Capital punishment": "Capital punishment or the death penalty is the punishment for a crime which involves taking the convicted person’s life. In India capital punishment is awarded in the rarest of rare cases.",
    "Case Number": "A unique identification number provided by the court for each case, made up of three components: a case type, the said number, and the year in which the case was instituted.",
    "Case Status": "The stage at which a case is, within the process in the court.",
    "Cause List": "A list issued by the registry of the matters to be heard by the court on any day. The bench, court hall number and the position of the matter are indicated on the cause list. This list appears in print form in every court, and is made available on the website of several courts. Check the wiki page",
    "Cause of action": "A set of facts and circumstances sufficient for a party to initiate legal action against another party.",
    "Charge sheet": "Charge sheet refers to a formal police record presented to the court showing the names of each person accused of the criminal offence/s, the nature of the accusations and the crimes, and the evidence. If the person accused of a crime is in prison, the police has to file a chargesheet in 60 days (where the punishment for the crime is less than 10 years) or 90 days (where the punishment of the crime is more than 10 years). Check the wiki page",
    "Circumstantial Evidence": "Circumstantial evidence is indirect evidence that is not based on direct observation. On its face circumstantial evidence does not prove a fact in issue but gives rise to a logical inference that the fact exists. A person can be convicted on the basis of circumstantial evidence only if the circumstances taken cumulatively form a chain so complete that there is no escape from the conclusion that in all human probability, the crime was committed by them.",
    "Civil Procedure Code": "Codified procedural law related to administration of Indian civil law.",
    "Civil": "That part of the law that encompasses business, contracts, estates, domestic (family) relations, accidents, negligence, and everything related to legal issues, statutes, and lawsuits, that is not criminal law.",
    "Commissions": "A commission is appointed by a court to ascertain or investigate facts needed to decide a case. A commission is usually given specific terms of reference. Members of a commission can be academics, social activists/workers, advocates, or judges.",
    "Commutation": "The action of an executive officer to substitute a punishment given to a convicted person, with a less severe punishment. Under the Constitution, the President and Governor have the power to commute sentences.",
    "Complaint": "Any allegation made orally or in writing to the police or a magistrate stating that a criminal offence has been committed, with a view to them taking action to investigate the alleged offence.",
    "Conviction": "It is a final adjudication of finding an accused person guilty of the commission of s crime by a Court.",
    "Counterclaim": "A claim made by the defendant against the plaintiff in answer to the claim raised by the plaintiff.",
    "Court Hall": "The room in which the judicial proceedings of the court are carried out. Court halls are usually described by the numbers assigned to them e.g. Courthall No. 3.",
    "Court Notice/Summons": "An official document that a court sends to a party informing them that a case has been filed against them, and which indicates the date and time of the next hearing.",
    "Criminal Procedure Code": "The main legislation on procedure for administration of substantive criminal law in India.",
    "Criminal": "That which pertains to crimes, and requires the administration of penal justice. Involving those cases that deal with a violation of a law in which a citizen inflicts injury upon another citizen or the state. Punishable with the curtailment of liberty, via imprisonment or detention, or fines.",
    "Cross-examination": "The examination of witness by the opposite party shall be called a cross-examination.",
    "Decree": "The formal judgment, or order of a court, to decide the rights of the parties involved in the suit.",
    "Defendant": "A person who is being accused or sued in a court of law.",
    "Dismissal": "The rejection of a case on its merits, either by the trial court or by an appellate court.",
    "Evidence": "The body of facts and circumstances presented in a court to prove or disprove the matter in issue. It includes oral testimony, documents, and material objects.",
    "FIR (First Information Report)": "A written document prepared by the police when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offence, which marks the beginning of a criminal investigation.",
    "Garnishee Order": "An order from a court to a third party holding property or funds belonging to the judgment debtor, directing that such property or funds be paid to the judgment creditor.",
    "Habeas Corpus": "A writ or order that requires a person or institution holding another person in custody to bring the detainee before the court, to ensure that the detention is lawful.",
    "Hearing": "A session of court during which the parties present their case and the judge considers the evidence and arguments.",
    "Indictment": "A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime, presented by a grand jury.",
    "Injunction": "A court order that prohibits or mandates certain actions to prevent harm or injustice.",
    "Judgment": "The final decision of a court in a case, determining the rights and liabilities of the parties.",
    "Litigation": "The process of taking legal action or resolving disputes through the court system.",
    "Motion": "A formal request made to a court for an order or ruling on a particular matter.",
    "Plaintiff": "The person or party who initiates a lawsuit or legal action.",
    "Plea": "A formal statement made by a defendant in court, either admitting or denying guilt.",
    "Precedent": "A legal principle or rule established by previous court decisions that guide judges in future cases.",
    "Prosecutor": "A lawyer representing the government who is responsible for presenting the case against the accused in a criminal trial.",
    "Statute": "A written law enacted by a legislative body.",
    "Testimony": "A statement made by a witness under oath, presented in court as evidence.",
    "Verdict": "The decision reached by a jury or judge in a trial, determining the outcome of the case.",
    "Warrant": "A legal document authorizing law enforcement to take certain actions, such as arresting an individual or searching premises.",
    "Witness": "A person who provides evidence or testimony in a legal proceeding.",
    "Limitation": "The maximum time from the date of the offence that parties have to initiate legal proceedings. Limitation does not apply to criminal cases involving offences punishable with imprisonment of more than 3 years.",
    "Litigant": "A party to a lawsuit in a court.",
    "Lok Adalats": "A system of alternative dispute resolution developed in India. It roughly means people’s court and it is a forum where disputes/cases pending in the court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled/ compromised amicably. Lok Adalats have been given statutory status under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.",
    "Malice": "Intention to commit a criminal offence.",
    "Mandatory minimum sentence": "It is a minimum sentence prescribed for certain serious offences irrespective of the circumstances of the crime. It reduces a judge’s discretion since they cannot reduce the sentence below the minimum. E.g. Section 376-DB of IPC provides for a mandatory minimum punishment of life imprisonment without remission for persons convicted for rape/gangrape of a girl under the age of 12 years.",
    "Mediation": "It is a form of alternative dispute resolution where parties choose a third party who is neutral to help them to resolve their dispute through compromise and discussion.",
    "Mens Rea": "It means guilty mind in Latin. Mens rea refers to criminal intent required in order to convict a person, and it is an essential element that has to be proved in criminal proceedings.",
    "Merits": "The substantive grounds of dispute between the parties.",
    "Mitigating Circumstances": "Mitigating circumstances are facts that appear to mitigate the seriousness of a crime by rendering the actions of the accused less severe and influences the sentence given by the judge. E.g. the age of the accused person and their previous criminal record are considered mitigating circumstances.",
    "Modus Operandi": "The mode or way in which a person commits a crime.",
    "Murder": "An act committed with an intention to cause death. The act is done with the intention of causing such bodily injury which the offender has knowledge that it would result in death.",
    "Notice": "The legal notification by which a party or person is made aware of a legal process affecting their rights, obligations, or duties.",
    "Objection": "An argument or contention raised in response to the actions of the other party in a court or tribunal.",
    "Order": "A direction issued by a court against one or more parties to a case. Orders can be given during the proceedings or after the case has been decided.",
    "Original Jurisdiction": "A court’s power to hear a case in the first instance. It is the first court that hears a matter. This depends on the nature of the case and the value of the dispute in the case. The Supreme Court of India has exclusive original jurisdiction over any dispute between the Government of India and one or more states or between the Government of India and any state or states on one side and one or more states on the other or between two or more states.",
    "Pecuniary jurisdiction": "The pecuniary jurisdiction of a court refers to the monetary value of cases that can be adjudicated by it.",
    "Pendency": "As per the 245th Law Commission report pendency refers to all cases instituted but not disposed of, regardless of when the case was instituted.",
    "Personal Bond": "A personal bond is an agreement by the accused person as a condition for release on bail that they will appear for court hearings and will comply with the conditions placed on their release.",
    "Petition": "A formal written request presented to a court of law.",
    "Petitioner": "The party who presents a petition in court of law.",
    "Plaint": "A legal document which contains plaintiff’s claims and, and the remedies prayed for from the court.",
    "Plaintiff": "The party who initiates a lawsuit (also known as an action) before a court of law.",
    "Plea bargain": "Plea bargaining is a negotiation between the accused and the prosecution where the accused agrees to plead guilty in exchange for certain concessions by the prosecution. It is a bargain where an accused person pleads guilty to a lesser charge and the prosecutors in return drop more serious charges.",
    "Plea": "In a court of law, a person’s plea is the answer that they give when they have been charged with a crime, saying whether or not they are guilty of that crime. It is usually taken at the initial stage of the trial.",
    "Pleadings": "Written presentation by litigants in a case, setting forth the facts upon which they are claiming legal relief or challenging the claims of the opposite party.",
    "Police Custody": "Police custody means that the physical custody of the accused person is with the police. The accused person is lodged in a lock-up of a police station. Police custody is ordered for a maximum of fourteen days after which the accused person has to be kept in judicial custody.",
    "Prayer": "A prayer for relief is a portion of a complaint in which the plaintiff describes the remedies that they seek from the court.",
    "Precedent": "A precedent or authority is a principle or rule established in a previous legal case that is either binding on a court or other tribunal when deciding subsequent cases with similar issues or facts.",
    "Pre-emption": "It is the preferential right to purchase or enjoy property before another.",
    "Prima facie": "It means at first sight in Latin. It is a way to evaluate a case at an initial stage to see if there is enough material for it to go to trial.",
    "Probation": "The release of a convict from prison subject to good behaviour and any other conditions. A violation of probation conditions can lead to its revocation and to imprisonment.",
    "Procedural": "Procedural law comprises the rules by which a court prescribes the steps for having a right or duty that is judicially enforced, and determines what happens in civil lawsuit, criminal or administrative proceedings.",
    "Proceedings": "It is the form and manner in which a court of law or judicial officer conducts business.",
    "Public Prosecutor": "A lawyer representing the state in a criminal trial. Since a criminal offence is regarded as a public wrong, which has been committed not only against the victim, but also against society as a whole, the case is prosecuted by the state.",
    "Rape": "Sexual intercourse with a woman against her will, without her consent, by coercion, misrepresentation or fraud or at a time when she has been intoxicated or duped, or is of unsound mental health and in any case if she is under the age of 18 years.",
    "Record": "It is the record maintained by the court for each case, including pleadings, documents and evidence.",
    "Recusal": "It is an action of a judge to withdraw himself from a case in which his bias to one of the parties may be called into question.",
    "Registry": "An office of the court which receives and maintains documents for filing with the court.",
    "Rejoinder": "A pleading in which the plaintiff explains or rebuts the additional facts brought up by the defendant in their written statement.",
    "Remand": "Police custody of an accused person ordered by a magistrate when the investigation is not completed within 24 hours of arrest.",
    "Remand": "To send back the case to the lower court.",
    "Representative suit": "It is a suit that is filed by one person on behalf of themselves and on behalf of others who have the same interest in the suit.",
    "Respondent": "A party against whom a petition is filed. This term is generally used in appeals. A respondent can be the plaintiff or defendant from lower court.",
    "Review": "A proceeding in a court to review its own judgement in case of any error or mistake made with regard to the decision rendered, to rectify the same.",
    "Right": "A legally protected interest.",
    "Robbery": "Theft is a robbery when in order to commit theft, the offender voluntarily causes or attempts to cause to any person death, subject him to wrongful restraint, cause hurt or induce fear of instant death, instant wrongful restraint or cause instant hurt.",
    "Search Warrant": "An order signed by a judge for probable cause that directs owners of private property to allow the police to enter and search for items named in the warrant.",
    "Separation of Powers": "A constitutional government with three separate branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.",
    "Set off": "It is a kind of cross-claim for the recovery of money which the defendant raises against the claim of the plaintiff subtract dues owed to the defendant by the plaintiff from the dues claimed by the plaintiff.",
    "Settlement": "It is an agreement reached by the parties in a case to resolve their dispute.",
    "Special Courts": "Bodies within the judicial branch of government that generally address only one area of law or have specifically defined powers.",
    "Stage of the Case": "The steps in process through which a case passes.",
    "Statute": "Any law passed by a legislative body at the municipal, state, or central level.",
    "Substantive": "A statutory, or written law, that creates and defines rights and duties and powers of parties, such as crimes and punishments in criminal law, civil rights and responsibilities in civil law.",
    "Suit": "A civil action brought by a party/parties against another in a court of law.",
    "Summons": "Summon is a document that commands a person to whom it is served to appear before the court and to answer the complaint made against him.",
    "Surety": "A surety is a person that guarantees the performance of a particular obligation by the principal debtor and pays in case the debtor fails to pay.",
    "Tort": "A tort is a civil wrong done to another person, including physical harm or harm to property, rights or reputation.",
    "Trial": "The examination of evidence and law in a court to determine whether the defendant is guilty or liable for the offense or claim.",
    "Vicarious Liability": "Vicarious liability refers to the situation where an employer is held liable for the negligent or wrongful actions of its employees or agents performed in the course of their employment.",
    "Writ": "A formal written order issued by a court commanding the performance or prohibition of some act.",
    "Writ of Habeas Corpus": "It is a court order that requires an individual to be brought before a judge, especially to determine if the person's detention is lawful."
}
legal_terms_lower = {k.lower(): v.lower() for k, v in legal_terms.items()}

# Preprocessing functions
def preprocess(text):
    text = text.lower()
    text = re.sub(r'[^\w\s]', '', text)
    return text

def find_legal_terms(input_text):
    tokens = word_tokenize(preprocess(input_text))
    bigrams = [' '.join(ngram) for ngram in ngrams(tokens, 2)]
    trigrams = [' '.join(ngram) for ngram in ngrams(tokens, 3)]
    matches = set()

    for token in tokens + bigrams + trigrams:
        if token in legal_terms_lower:
            matches.add(token)
    return matches